Getting nervous, should I hoard?

[Vicleonardo1]

So, finding some things are getting popular, more expensive and getting a bit hard to find. 

 

Have an opportunity to buy a couple of Getrag 245's in a very questionable state of function. One is admittedly a bit trashed. Not even sure if both could be made into one functioning transmission.  I already have a 245 that is installed and running in my rig. Should I grab these as possible donors or just take a risk that my transmission will run for years and outlive me. 

 

I know that there is no absolutely correct answer here, but just wondering if I should jump at the opportunity (if the price becomes reasonable..currently it isn't). If you have a 245, do you worry about the future availability of parts? 

 

Engine: There are a few complete and running M10's available as well from Early 80's E21's at a pretty good price as well, should I grab one for future needs? or just hope nothing major goes out on my current car. 

 

Just food for thought. But I would love to see different opinions on what others would be concerned about in terms of parts, future availability and needs. 

 

Thank you for any feedback. 

 

Cheers everyone. 

[Guy Cocquyt]

Depends on your storage options and your wife.

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[Son of Marty]

If it was me I'd buy the trannys if you can get a good price on them, as for the engines if they can be had cheap I'd save the heads anyway m10 blocks are about as stout as can be and seldom need replacing due to catastrophic failure, offer them up here first and if no takers sell them for scrap. 

[robspeed]

Agree with the storage/wife contingency. 

[Vicleonardo1]

Decent storage. Beautiful wife...

The current car is an indirect hand me down from her father. A gift to her brother, now passed on to our family. The car is more precious to her than yours truly.  So I have some latitude here as long as I don't compromise her shoe/handbag budget....?

[Son of Marty]

4 minutes ago, Vicleonardo1 said:

 as long as I don't compromise her shoe/handbag budget....?

Duh?

[02Les]

As said, if they are a decent price, get them.

The trick is foreseeing what BMW will decide to make NLA next, and hoard those parts.

[jimk]

If you are not driving the hell out of your car, (like Ray does) no need for either the engine or trans with decent maintenance.

[AceAndrew]

12 minutes ago, Vicleonardo1 said:

Decent storage. Beautiful wife...

 

 

Jeez, somebody won the car-guy lottery.

 

As mentioned, I'd hoard heads and the transmission.  Maybe the 2.oL cranks as well (if they were cherry).  A stripped/cleaned/inspected/pressure-tested head on the shelf is a beautiful thing.

Edited September 6, 2018 by AceAndrew

[Vicleonardo1]

Thank you Andrew. Food for thought. Maybe I should look into digging up a head or two. 

 

There is a extremely nice clean, inspected  NOS head available near me, but asking price is way too many shoes and bags....

 

Asking price is about $2000. I could buy many M10's for that....

 

What's in your wallet? 

[zinz]

The gurus at MidAmerica have this conversation every year.  The following are becoming harder to find in usable condition.

 

245/5s,

3.91 LSDs,

and now add 2.0L cranks to the list as Andrew says above... good ones are becoming harder to source per engine builder, Terry Sayther here in Austin.

 

Uncracked heads are always good to keep for trading purposes.

 

My $0.02....

 

Ed

[halboyles]

21 minutes ago, Vicleonardo1 said:

Asking price is about $2000

 

New E12 heads are still available for half that:  https://parts.bmwnorthwest.com/p/BMW__2002tii/Cylinder-Head/43763865/11129061432.html

 

 

[ray_]

1 hour ago, jimk said:

If you are not driving the hell out of your car, (like Ray does) no need for either the engine or trans with decent maintenance.

 

Are you suggesting my crap is going to break? Again? 

 

[Vicleonardo1]

50 minutes ago, halboyles said:

 

New E12 heads are still available for half that:  https://parts.bmwnorthwest.com/p/BMW__2002tii/Cylinder-Head/43763865/11129061432.html

 

 

I knew it was definitely overpriced.  Hmm, at least I know what I can counter offer...

[Mike Self]

Definitely scarf up O/D 5 speeds--E21 donors are getting hard to find without astronomical mileage. 

 

A subset of 2 liter cranks:  the six bolt variety used on US '02s with VINs below 1665200.  They also used a different flywheel, pressure plate and throwout bearing.  The pressure plates were hard to find ten years ago:  the NOS one I found had a 1981 date on the box!  Fortunately for us early car owners, an 8 bolt crank, with the proper flywheel, pressure plate and T/O bearing will pop right into our early blocks.  

 

Now early pistons for 121 heads...that's another story.

 

mike